Taming The Mayor!

Decrypted!

Fel and I made our way inside Connor's home.

I keenly remembered to put the ring inside Fel's car as I knew it was bugged.

She guided me in, signifying she'd been here previously which rather caught me with a suspicion of doubt that how'd know this place so well.

Because the last time I checked Connor didn't even had her address.

But whatever it was my brain was clouded with different concerns.

We made our way inside his bedroom.

Connor stood wearing a pair of rough trousers and a simple white T-shirt. His bedroom was in colors of grey and white.

The polaroids I handed him over were scattered all over his grey bedsheets of his bed and his laptop was placed on the bed. He paced back and forth but stopped as he saw us entering.

He looked up to me and the look he held created a wave of anxiety inside my system.

Fel went ahead and took in a seat on one of the single seats placed near the bedroom window.

"Well....?", I asked still standing near the bed.

"Why don't you sit down?", Connor offered and by every passing second by anxiety kept turning higher by ten folds.

I sat down at the bed, near the back rest and crossed my legs.

"You look really beautiful.", Connor said smiling making me realise that I still wore my clothes from the bridal show.

I smiled back not having the guts to speak or say anything.

"What did you find?", I said cutting him off directly.

"Amy...", Connor exhaled sharply. "You sure you wanna know?", He added.

"No!", I said speaking the truth, "But I know I have to.", I said pointedly.

Connor looked up to Fel and something told me she knew everything.

She got up and walked towards me.

She stood right next to me and placed her hands down my shoulders, "Amy... This won't be easy for you but we want to be there for you. We want to help you now and be there to support you mentally, emotionally and physically. Don't consider yourself alone. It's going to be a difficult one but whatever your decision would be after this we're going to support you on that.", She said bracing me into a hug.

My head coincided with her belly as he arms wrapped my shoulders and my head safely. I extended my arms up her back and hugged her tightly.

"You guys risked a lot for me. I can't drag you guys into this mess anymore. Of course I'll need your support but I also have to do this on my own.", I told her back.

I have been mentally bracing and preparing myself to face the worst.

The worst that this marriage might be a set up for a contract. The worst that my father might be murderer. The worst that I might have to press charges against my father for his involvement in Brandon's attack. The worst that Eric and dad might be in this together and Eric might be doing this either or not out of revenge for what happened between us two years ago.

"We did everything for you and we'll do everything just for you. You're not alone, just remember that. And it'll always be your decision to make things right or not.", Connor extended his hand and grabbed mine squeezing it lightly.

I smiled lowly at them.

"I really need to know now.", I said looking over at the two.

Connor went ahead and grabbed his laptop.

He exhaled sharply and began.

"I was able to c***k Brandon's file within six hours even before your father's that took me two days.", He began going through his laptop.

I stayed quiet and cued him to speak and shun the light of revelation upon me.

"Brandon's file wasn't encrypted that folds. The files reveals a number of deal between the City Mayoral office and your family since the seventies. It began with dealings between your grand father and Brandon's grandfather.", He turned the laptop towards me to view the files.

They were associative files of bounties, truces and deals between the O'Neils and the Mayhews.

I looked through those files one by one. Swartz O'Neil my grand father when came into power of the O'Neil business formed his first associative bounty to establish business on permanent basis with The ruling family of Cherwood and the then Mayor; Gregory Mayhew.

The deals were centered around The Mayhews being the ruling party would allow every surveillance business authority on the grounds of Cherwood to the O'Neils.

Prior to their first deal there was no signs of any dealings between the two parties.

"Why aren't there any deals before seventy eight?", I asked Connor.

"I looked into the matter.", Fel spoke grabbing my attention, "The two families were in fact rival before this bounty had begun. Your grandfather was the first one to approach the Mayhews who had in fact faced a huge set back in their business two years ago and the Mayhews were in fact running short on their campaign funds for the Mayoral elections."

"How do you know that?", I asked her.

"I searched for some old newspapers. Schwartz O'Neil approached Gregory Mayhew promising him an unattainable campaign for his upcoming mayoral elections and in return after he'll get the mayor's office the O'Neils would own the grounds of Cherwood."

"Just like my father does.", I added understanding the picture a bit.

"After Gregory Mayhew did get selected, he fulfilled his promise.", Now Connor briefed, "And that began an era of a friendship and a strong bond between the two families. Gregory and Schwartz continued to become best friends. They were extreme close. In business and rivalry and friendship, they both stood together. They Even sent their children Joseph Mayhew and your father off to the same college, having them grow up together and stay together only to strengthen the bond of the family bounty."

"But the two also made a pact about their family business.", Fel added.

I looked up to her and her expressions told me that something was definitely off about what she might say next.

My heart was already struggling to match the crazy beat of my head pounding hard but I was just struggling through everything.

"Gregory Mayhew had two sons just like your grandfather and their was a sparkling unrest associated about the throne of family business, which son will have it. So the two decided that the son with a first male born will have the family business irrespective of the rank they stand at."

"And uncle Aiden had a son, which clearly gives my father the motive to kill him as he was the older brother and he thought he deserved the family business. If uncle Aiden would've lived, dad wouldn't have the business as dad's first born was Sarah.", I added with a horror inside my heart.

I felt my entire body going cold at the final revelation that my father is indeed a pretentious murderer.

"Yes... And well his theory could be strengthened by the fact that Joseph Mayhew was the younger of the two brothers and yet he was transferred the mayoral candidacy torch by Gregory Mayhew as his son was born."

The son that he tortured and abused!

I kept my thoughts to myself still not revealing Brandon's struggle as it was his story to tell.

"But for years the two families remained at peace and several deals went down that profited the two parties and made this city what it is today. Until the past five years when your father withdrew all the deals back breaking down the truce with the Mayhews."

I looked up to Connor at his words and suddenly a realization hit me.

Before I ran off, dad didn't want me to date Brandon. Is it... Is it because he was already in long term plans of breaking the bounty?

"The bounty was however a part of the rule for the two families to follow that was added in the legal constitutional legislation by Gregory Mayhew. This doesn't only made your father a criminal in the eyes of the Cherwood law but also made him a candidate for the mayoral office."

"Wait! What?", I asked confused at his words.

"A part of the bounty!", Fel began. "A part of the bounty stated that unless the two parties stayed together the O'Neils will never run for the Mayor. And your father backing off from the truce made him eligible for as a candidate of the office."

"This was all his long term plan!", I stated as a realisation hit me, "But why hasn't he ever run as a candidate. But if he did break the associations with Mayhews, why go to all the trouble to get me here only to marry Brandon?", I asked.

"We'll get to that as well. But the thing... Why you've been brought here.", Connor added.

I cleared my entire head out to listen to him with my complete attention. My heart pounded loudly for me to maintain my posture at that moment was the difficult thing of all.

"Gregory and Schwartz were really concerned regarding to maintaining this bounty that was a win win for them. They'd seen the rivalry between the two families so in order to maintain that and guarantee that the bounty will be maintained, the two made another bounty... A binding contract.", Connor exhaled heavily before speaking.

"According to that contract, the son of Joseph Mayhew, Brandon Mayhew will marry the second born daughter of Cole O'Neil. And this was also added in the constitutional legislation. And above all... If the two parties failed to follow this contract then as a penalty Joseph Mayhew's son would not be eligible to run the office anymore and the O'Neils will not have their business to their names. And in any case of death of any one of the parties prior to the wedding, the penalty would still be the same."

Everything now made sense to me. Everything was well and clear.

Brandon's words and his actions all made sense. Why he wanted to make sure I was safe. Why killing me wasn't an option for him.

"That's why they were so desperate to get me here.", I mumbled lowly under my breath.

"Now you know why your father sided with the Mayhews at lying and bringing you here. But now, why has your father never run for the mayor.", Fel exhaled sharply and heaved a sigh cueing me to mentally prepare myself for the worst.

I heaved a sigh and sat straight listening carefully.

Connor lifted the laptop and shifted it towards me.

I looked at the screen and saw the cracked file that I stole from dad's laptop.

The office!

It had a series of deals and associations with the Mayhews. That was the office! The city office.

My eyes caught the glimpse of the docks!

The docks were the files with associations with the Paiges!

My entire existence froze. The deals began about almost four years ago, an year after father's withdrawal from the bounty with the Mayhews.

The association associated with Paiges centered around the businesses at the docks, the import and export business through seaportations. Just like my father ran the wood business, the Paiges ran the sea business in Cherwood.

I read through the lines and saw different articles and headlines, including many paper works that clearly indicated that Paiges were a rival to the Mayhews.

Sean Paige had been trying to run as the mayor and failed for the past eighteen years consecutively. Now the Paiges were out of the business for the office because a journalist exposed their dirty deals at smuggling drugs into Cherwood which ran a case against the Paiges but they get away with it by killing the reporter who stood against them as well as by bribing the judge and the lawyer.

But the council chamber and the Mayor petted against them and included that the Paiges will never be able to run for the any government office.

Giving them a motive to go against the Mayhews including killing Brandon.

All the proofs, pictures, newspaper articles and everything was present with in the files that I read through.

Dad had been working with them for over the past four years and have been subsiding alongside with Sean Paige since that long but the lines read his associations with Eric Paige since the past two years. After our encounter in Miami went down!

The final embracement was a final contract. I opened it up and read through it.

The contract stated that the Paiges will form an association with Cole O' Neil.

The conditions to the death of the Mayor Brandon Mayhew weren't stated. However it stated that after the death of the Mayor, dad would be getting the office to the Mayor through electoral selection and the Paiges will be allowed to continue their legal and illegal businesses.

There were pictures holding down a proof of their good bonding.

I heaved a huge sigh and exhaled heavily as I finished reading the files.

I felt my body trembling with my entire existence shaking bad with the revelation.

I leaned on the back rest and exhaled heavily as tears washed off my face.

"My father's a manipulative murderer. He uses people for his own good. Be it if it's his own daughter.", I began murmuring the truth.

"He's using me to show the Mayhews that he doesn't want to lose his business which is true and on the other hand he's using the Paiges to get rid of Brandon and finally have the office of the Mayor. It was all the reason why he wanted to send me away from Cherwood to keep me away from Brandon at first place because he was already planning on breaking the truce with the Mayhews."

I joined all the puzzles together.

"He's not only playing dirty but also dangerous. He has no idea what Brandon will do if he ever gets his hands on all this information.", I stated actually being afraid for my family.

At this point I didn't even care for dad but I was afraid for Carol and Margaret.

"Brandon will go to extreme limits to hurt my family if he ever found out what he's been up to.", I stated with trembling lips.

"About Brandon... Amy... We didn't tell you everything from his files.", Connor stated looking over at Fel.

I looked up to Fel and she had worry plastered all over her face eyeing Connor to stop.

"Connor that's not necessary.", Fel warned him through her tone.

"But it's her right to know.", He argued.

"But...", Fel began but I cut her off.

"What is it?", I asked looking up at them with misty eyes.

"Brandon also has a contract for you.", Connor began.

My brain had stopped processing and I couldn't comprehend anything anymore at this point.

Everything was in such a daze for that catching one single short shot at what might be the reason behind Connor's words was not even a priority to me.

"What is it?", I asked him the same thing again.

"That's a marriage contract.", Connor said slowly trying to smoother in my condition.

"Just get done with it.", I hissed lowly closing my eyes letting tears stream down my face.

I mentally prepared myself for the worst.

"I don't know when he was going to make you sign them but according to that truce your marriage will be only a contract of two years that will end up after two years with you leaving America forever.", He concluded.

His words sting my heart pretty bad.

My heart was already bleeding and those last of his words added a stance of a final blow that damaged my heart with every extreme pain.

I didn't know how to react or behave anymore.

I felt my head clouded with all the information I had just received.

I connected every event with every piece of puzzle I had in my hand.

Dad knew I'd never come to Cherwood in the name of his contract breach. He lied and played a dirty game to bring me here. Brandon had no other option but to make me his wife, that's why he couldn't kill me. Dad wanted Brandon's seat, so he fed Brandon with my presence and went behind his back attacking the plan with the Paiges. E.P!

Eric! He was an extremely scrumptious man. Nothing was more important than his ego and business for him. It was either of the Paiges that dad was talking to. This makes it clear he does know that I'm being forced into this marriage. Those flowers that appeared today!

Everything made sense to me now!

"I'll be needing those files!", I announced out loud to Connor and Fel who looked up to me with surprise plastered on their face.

I realised I was crying foolishly, so I swept off my tears off my face and stood up.

I looked down at myself realising that I was still in my bridal shower dress.

I chuckled coldly at the thought of this wedding.

It's a joke. A contract! I must give it to Brandon who was no less than dad that wanted to use me and throw me away once he gets what he wants in his hands.

I looked around the room and saw a flash drive placed at the bedside drawer.

"I will be needing these files.", I said plugging down the drive inside the laptop.

"What are you doing?", Connor asked concerned of my actions.

"I'm going to confront dad about everything. And once I'll get his confession, I'll record it and then I'll get out of this obligation with Brandon. To hell with him and his contract.", I said copying down the files in the drive.

Little did I pricked a trick because I knew that my friends were risking everything by keeping these files while they were being desperately kept an eye on.

"Amy... What are you saying?", Fel got concerned about my behaviour.

I turned towards her, "I really need to see this through.", I said sternly making a decision of my own.

*********************

Third person P.O.V

The window to the room was opened wide with a small amount of light falling inside the darker room, illuminating it and making it less darker.

The person wearing black hoodie with his hood on his head, followed by a cap, completely hiding his face stood in front of the study area inside Connor's study, copying down all the files from the laptop he hacked into.

He heard a sound of someone walking near him and hid behind the door.

The door to the study was slightly opened giving the intruder access to the conditions of the house, so he could carefully keep his theft going on.

"Daddy!", A kid yelled and Connor came out of his room at the voice of his nephew Spencer.

"Hey Spence!", Connor came out of his room that coincided in the same corridor as his study room.

He had no idea that an intruder was perhaps present in his home and he was perhaps going to be a part of an unfortunate event now.

"What are you doing up so late? You playing those video games again?", Connor asked Spencer picking him up in his arms and pecking his cheeks.

"I heard a noise.", Spencer said rubbing his eyes, "I thought you were in your study.", He hid his face in Connor's neck, showing how tired he was.

Connor looked up to his study and saw the door slightly being open.

He didn't remember well whether he left it open or not.

He approached the door towards the study, the intruder sensed someone moving towards the door. He pulled out his knife from his pocket, ready to attack any minute.

Connor still held his nephew in his arms as he approached the study.

With every passing second the intruder pulled the knife more outside.

Connor finally reached the door and closed it from outside. He held Spencer up and left for his bedroom.

The intruder heaved a sigh and looked over at the laptop and his files were copied.

He immediately took the flash drive and made his way outside the window that entered from and from the back side of the house he made his way towards the beach where the house was in the beach housing society.

He walked towards the small open bar that had it's seats scattered from it's open end towards the mid of the beach sand.

The black hood man went towards a seat and sat there.

He did everything as he was told to do through a series of text messages.

He didn't even want to do. In fact he wasn't even a thief, a robber or an intruder. He was just an innocent man who being framed into this and forced by threat to follow the instructions or else his daughter pays.

He looked down at his phone and received another text.

Leave it on the table and go!

He texted back.

What guarantees my daughter's safety?

He held his cold hands together, he felt a chill inside him due the night cool sea breeze.

You know I never play! She'll be safe. Now keep it there and go!

He quietly kept down the flash drive on the table and got up to leave.

Once he left, a man came in his place and gestured the bar tender who nodded his head.

He wore a sleek black sweat shirt followed by a pair of light blue denims.

The guy whom he manipulated to carry out this theft was a definite pawn to him in his game of discretion.

He picked the flash drive from the table and left to walk down in his car.

He sat in his Maserati and grabbed the steering wheel looking down at the flash drive.

"You're a house of golden bricks Amy! And you just keep adding more bricks to mine.", He smiled devilishly as he knew he succeeded in achieving a big one for him.

He knew that his boss was going to reward him a big one for this and he planned on celebrating the increased folds of his bank account.